Companies are increasingly struggling to eliminate the batch manufacturing process in lieu of continuous flow or lean manufacturing. The reasons for the change are obvious: shorten lead times, decrease WIP, decrease inventory and scrap, increase flexibility and increase productivity.  

Wear, corrosion and fatigue properties are strongly dependent on surface quality and its modifications. Thermochemical methods such as gas and plasma nitriding allow for enhancement of these properties in most severely loaded (mechanically and/or chemically) applications without causing any changes in dimensions of the treated objects.

Nitriding is a process that involves diffusing nitrogen into a ferrous part’s surface. The result is a part with increased surface hardness, wear and corrosion resistance, anti-galling properties and improved fatigue strength.

This month, we focus on the materials used. Previous print articles have addressed the basics of the process (April) and the details of the process chemistry (May).

The fuzzy definitions of “raw material” and “parts” in specifications create variable and debatable heat-treating quality standards.